Debra Gruszecki – The Desert Sun
Six California Indian tribes who are members of the California Tribal
Business Alliance sent $8million in quarterly payments to the state
today.
The latest quarterly payments by the tribes, five of which signed
amended Indian gaming compacts, brings total payments to the state to
more than $134 million since the compacts took effect last September,
Alliance executive director Alison Harvey wrote in a press
release.
Under the amended compacts, Harvey said the tribes pay into three
accounts - the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for tribes with small or no
casinos, the state's General Fund, and a bond fund to repay the General
Fund debt to special transportation accounts.
The tribes' General Fund payments, called Additional Device Fees, are
based on how many slot machines they have added since the compacts took
effect.
In total, for the third quarter of 2005, Harvey wrote that the alliance
tribes paid $2,064,029 to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, $5,998,900 to
the General Fund and $25,202,500 to the bond fund.
Amended compacts, in effect until 2030, are with the Pala Band of
Mission Indians, the Pauma Band of Luiseño Indians, the Rumsey Band of
Wintun Indians, the United Auburn Indian Community and the Viejas Band
of Kumeyaay Indians.
